Control system



May 28,1935. F, EAMES 1 2,003,041

CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Oct. 11, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. 2

INVENTOR ATTORNEY May 28, 1935.

w. F. EAMES 2,003,041

, CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Oct. 11, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 64 Hi I] INVENTOR Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL SYSTEM Application October 11, 1929, Serial No. 398,942

8 Claims.

My invention relates to signalling systems and more particularly to signalling systems employed in elevator systems. 1 a

One object of my invention is to provide a signalling system in which a minimum amount of wiring is required for connecting the various pieces of apparatus embodied in the system.

Another object of my invention is to provide a signalling system having a fioor selector with avery small number of contact strips and segments.

A further object of my invention is to provide for reducing the number of relays required in constructing an elevator signalling system.

Another object of my invention is to provide for maintaining a push button in its depressed condition until an elevator car has been conditioned to answer the signal set up by the depressed button so as to indicate to passengers that the button has been pressed and that a stop call is registered.

Another object of my invention is to provide for releasing a depressed button as soon as some step has been taken to answer the signal registered'on that button.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fully selective elevator signalling system, that is, a system in which a registered call -,is cancelled the instant that a car starts to answer the call, thereby preventing a following car from receiving the same signal.

A further object of my invention is to provide a means for restoring or resetting an operated push button that shall be simple and eflicient in operation and capable of being readily and economically manufactured, installed and maintained.

It is also an object of my invention to provide for causing a car to be decelerated from an express speed to its normal operating speed when it approaches at express speed a landing for which a signalcd stop exists so that it may receive the stop signal while running at a speed that will permit it to be stopped at that landing and to also provide for causing the car to resume its express speed after the stop has been made.

Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, appear hereinafter.

For a fuller understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following description taken'in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figures land 2 constitute a diagrammatic representation of the control circuits and apparatus embodying my invention as applied to an elevator system.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the windings of one of the push buttons holding and restoring magnets.

The drawings illustrate an elevator car C as suitably suspended upon a cable Ca which passes over a hoisting drum D to a suitable counterweight Cw. The hoisting drum D is directly coupled to the armature EM of an elevator motor EM, the field winding EMF of which is connected, for constant voltage energization, to a source of power designated as the supply conductors Li and L2.

A variable voltage system of control may be provided for operating the hoisting motor EM wherein the armature EM of the hoisting motor is connected in loop circuit with the armature G of a generator G. The generator G is provided with a separately excited field winding GF and a cumulative series field winding GSF.

The armature G of the generator G is suitably driven by means of a driving motor M illustrated as being of the shunt wound type having its armature M and its field winding MF connected in shunt relation to the supply conductors Li and L2.

The direction and speed of the hoisting motor EM may be suitably controlled by controlling the direction and value of the excitation current that is supplied to the separately excited field winding GF of the generator G.

The direction of the excitation current for the field winding GF may be suitably controlled by means of an rip-direction switch I and a downdirection switch 2, while the value of the current supply to the field winding may be controlled by means of an intermediate speed relay 3, a normal or high-speed relay 4, andan express-speed relay 5.

The operation of the up-direction and the down-direction switches l and 2, as well as the intermediate speed relay 3 and the normal or high-speed relay 4 may be controlled by means of a car switch CS that is mounted upon the car C in position to be actuated by an attendant thereon.

An express-speed switch 9 is provided for controlling the express-speed relay 5. The switch 9 may be disposed at any suitable point where the dispatcher in charge of the elevator may close the switch to speed up the operation of the elevator at any time desired. For instance, if the high speed, that is, the normal working speed of the car is, say 700 feet per minute the dispatcher may cause it to operate at an express-speed of say 800 feet per minute.

A relay 6 is connected with the elevator signaling system in such manner that it will operate to deenergize the express-speed relay to decelerate the car from express speed. to its high speed, that is, its normal working speed when it nears a registered call fora stop.

A voltage or counter electromotive force relay 1 is connected across the loop circuit of the motor EM and provided with contact members that open or close gaps in the energizing circuits for the high-speed relay i and the express-speed relay 5, thereby delaying the energization of these relays until the generator reaches a predetermined speed. c

The use of the relay 1 permits the automatic selection of a one-floor run or a two-floor run, dependent upon the time during which the car switch is held in full speed position. It is undesirable to force the attendant to carefully operate the carswitch, when making a one-floor run, to such a position as it will engage only the intermediate speed contact members, it being preferable that he be permitted to throw the car switch to its extreme position regardless of the distance the car is to travel. Without the delay imposed by the relay 1, movement or" the car switch to its high speed position would cause the car to accelerate to its highest speed from which it would be impossible to decelerate to stop at the next adjacent floor. by employing the relay as described, the'attendant may move the car switch to its full speed position and then immediately return it. to its neutral position, without the possibility of energizing the high speed relay 4, and the car will accelerate only to its intermediate speed and then m decelerate to the stop at the next floor. 40'

Inasmuch as the relay 7 also prevents the energization of the express speed relay 5 until the generator reaches a predetermined speed, it also prevents too much current from being applied suddenly to the generator and a resulting. unpleasant acceleration, if the car switch is moved to full speed position at a time when the expressspeed switch is closed. c

A control system of any suitable type may be employed for automatically stopping the car C level with the floors past which it moves, though I have illustrated the control system as of the automatic inductor landing type such' as disclosed in the copending application of E. M. Bouton, Se-

7 rial No. 731,291, filed August 14, 1924, and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company.

The inductor landing system includes an up high speed inductor relay HU, an up intermediate speed'inductor relay SU and a stopping inductor relay S for causing the car to be automatically decelerated from its high and intermediate speeds, respectively,'and brought to a stop at an exact landing with a fioorwhenthe car is travelling upwardly. Similarly, a down high speed in- ,ductor'relay I-ID, a down intermediate speed inductor relay SD and the stopping inductor relay S will cause the car to slow down and stop at the floors when it is travelling downwardly.

' It is'assumed that each of the floors past which the car moves will be provided with'a set of inductor plates that will cooperate with the inductor relays as the car approaches predetermined points in advance of the floor at which a stop is to be made, to efiect the operation of the relays. The inductor plates associated with any one However,

floor are illustrated as comprising an up high speedinductor plate HU, an up intermediate speed inductor plate SU', and a stopping inductor plate S for successively operating the up'inductor relays HU, SU and S as .the car makes an up stop. When the car is travelling downwardly, a high speed inductor plate H1), an intermediate speed inductor plate SD. and the stopping inductor plate S will successively operate the inductors HD, SD and S, respectively, as the car approaches a down stop.

' In adapting my system to elevator installations of the highspeed type in which the slow down distance of the car C is greater than the distance between two adjacent floors, I have provided the car C with two signal-giving devices, preferably electric lamps, a red lamp RL for indicating that'a stop is to be made at a floor more than one floor away and a green lamp GL for indicating,"'whilethe car is standing at a floor,

that a stop is to be made at the next floor.

It will be noted thatv each lamp is provided with two filaments a and b respectively in order that it-may be readily connected in the signal circuits for the elevator in such manner that push'buttons operated in any one car willnot disturb the signals for any other car. The a filaments are arranged tooperate in response to floor push buttons and the b filaments to the car push buttons. It will be understood, however, that separate lamps may be used in place.

of the two filament lamps shown. The circuits for the red lamp RL are connected to the signal system of the elevator, so thatthis lamp will be operated when the car is running at high speed. V 7

The circuits for the green lamp GL are connected to the signalling system of the elevator through normally closed contact members on the up and down switches I and 2 in such manner that the lamp GL may be energized only while the car is standing at a floor.

In order that waiting passengers at a floor landing may register or set up signals for stops to be made at that landing which will cause the signal lampsin the car to give the attendant on the car a stop signal as the car approaches that landing, a pair of signal-registering push buttons is mounted at each of the landings intermediate the terminal fioors, one for up travel and one for down travel. This system is illustrated as adapted for an elevator serving nine floors. The up and down buttons for the second floor are respectively designated as EU and 2D while those ,for the third and eighth floors are designated as 3U and 3D, and EU and 8D.

Push buttons C2, C3 and C3 (one for each floor) are mounted on the car C to be operated bottom floors is provided with a single lamp or floor lantern, while each of the intermediate fioors is provided with a pair of lanterns, one serving to indicate that the car is approaching in a downward direction and the other in an upward direction. The fioor lanterns are designated as Ll, L2D, L'ZU, LSD, LEU, 113D, L8U and L9.

In order that the various circuits for the push buttons, signal lamps and floor lanterns may be connected in accordance with the position of the car, the car is provided with a floor selector PS. The floor selector may be located at any suitable point, for example, in thepent house or the elevator shaft and, as illustrated, is similar to those usually employed in elevator signalling systems.

As shown, the selector FS is provided with a set of up contact segments and a set of down contact segments that are disposed to be engaged by cooperating brushes E0 to 21, inclusive, mounted upon and insulated from a movable arm MA. The movable arm MA is operated in accordance with the movements of the car by means of a screw S that is driven by some part of the operating mechanism of the car which the selector serves.

Usually the frictional engagement between the arm MA and its operating screw S will cause the arm to bear upon the up contact segments when the car is travelling upwardly and upon the down contact segments when the car is travelling downwardly. However, in the present system, it is desirable to have the movable arm tilted to the opposite side as soon as it reaches the limit of its up or down travel. Therefore, the selector is provided with a pair of electro-magnets' 30 and 3| that may be energized to cause the arm MA to tilt in the proper direction upon reaching the end of its travel.

The electro-magnets 30 and 3| may be energized to tilt the movable arm MA when the car reaches the limit of its up or down travel by having their coils connected in circuit with and controlled by an up selector relay 32 and a down selector relay 33 which, in turn, are controlled by a pair of limit switches 34 and 35.

The group of up contact segments under the brushes I0, I and I2 control the lighting-of the floor lanterns to indicate to waiting passengers that the car will stop for them.

The group of up contact segments under the brushes l3, l4 and I5 connect the floor buttons and the group of up contact segments under the brushes Hi, i! and I8 connect the car buttons with the signal devices in the car.

As shown, the brushes H], I l and I2 for the up floor lantern segments are so disposed on the arm MA that the high speed brush l 0 will engage the floor lantern segment for a floor when the car is two floors away from that floor, the intermediate speed brush it will engage the segment when the car is one floor away, and the standing brush l2 will be in engagement with the segment when the car is standing, thus providing means whereby an energized segment will keep a floor lantern lighted while a car decelerates from high speed to a stop at a floor and remains standing at that floor.

The express brush 13 for the up floor button segments is so disposed on the arm MA that it will engage the floor button segment for a floor when the car is approximately three floors away from that floor. The express brush i3 is connected in the circuit for the coil of the controlling relay 6. Therefore, when the express brush l3 comes into engagement with a contact segment that has been energized by the registration of a stop call, it will energize the relay 6 to open the circuit for the express relay 5.

Thus, if the car approaches a registered call at express speed, the express brush [3 will come into engagement with the energized segment when the car is three floors away from the floor for which the call exists and will thereby cause the car to decelerate from its express speed to its normal high speed so that it may pick up the registered call while it is running at such a speed that it can be stopped at the floor for which the stop call exists.

The brushes l4 and l 5 for the up floor button segments are disposed on the arm MA in such manner that the high speed brush 14 will engage the floor button segment for a floor when the car is approximately two floors away from that floor, and the standing brush l5 will be in engagement with the segment when the car is one floor away, thus providing separate circuits for operating the high speed signal and the low speed or standing signal devices in the car.

The express brush 16, the high speed brush l1 and the standing brush 8 for the up car button segments are disposed on the arm MA in a manner similar to the brushes i3, i4 and I 5 for decelerating the car when a car button has been pressed to energize a car button segment for a stop.

The down side of the selector comprises a duplicate of the up contact segments and brushes, except for a reversal of their order and position.

For the purpose of simplifying the drawings,

only one elevator car has been illustrated, but U any number of cars may be included in the signal system shown by connecting their signal circuits to the floor buttons through the conductors marked with the legend to other cars.

My invention may be understood best from an assumed operation of the apparatus represented in the drawings.

Assuming that the car C is standing at the first floor landing and that a passenger waiting at the second fioor presses the up button 2U, then the green lamp GL in the car will be lighted to indicate to the car attendant that an up stop is to be made at the second floor. At the same time, a circuit will be partially completed for lighting the up floor lantern at the second floor when the car approaches and prepares to stop at that floor.

The operation of the push button 2U closes a self-holding circuit for itself that extends from the supply conductor Ll through conductor 40, the contact members of button 2U, holding coil 4| and conductor 42 to supply conductor L2. The holding coil ll will maintain the push button 2U in a closed position, thus the condition of the button will indicate to the waiting passenger that the stop signal has been registered, until the car attendant centers the car switch CS to make a stop at second floor.

Inasmuch as the car is standing at the floor below that floor at which the call exists, the pressing of the button 2U will complete a circuit for lighting the green lamp GL in the car, which circuit extends from supply conductor Ll through conductor 46, the contact members of push button 2U conductor 43, restoring coil 44, conductor 45, the contact segment 4%, brush i5, conductors 4? and 48, the contact members (1 of up-direction switch I, conductor 49, the contact members d of down-direction switch 2, conductor 50, the filament a of green lamp GL and conductor 5| to supply conductor L2. The illumination of the green lamp GL will indicate to the attendant on the car C that a passenger is waiting at the second floor who desires to travel upwardly.

The car is assumed to normally operate at such high speeds that, in order, to stop at a floor,

the attendant must center the car switch CS when.

Therefore, under our assumed condition of operation, the attendant on the car C will start the car from the first floor by operating the switch CS in a clockwise direction to allow the car to travel only at a low'speed. The movement of the car switch CS completes a circuit for energizingthe Lip-direction switch I to start the car upwardly, which circuit extends from supply conducor L! through conductors 54, 55,

55 and 571, the normally closed contact members of stopping inductor relay S, conductors 58 and 59, the coil of up-direction switch i, conductor 59, the contact members 6!, t2 and 53 of car switch CS and conductor t l to supply conductor L2.

The closing of the contact members a on updirectionswitchl completes a self-holding circuit for that switch, which extends from supply conductor Ll to the coil of Lip-direction switch has just described and then through conductor 66, contact members of up-direction switch I and conductors 6? and 68 to supply conductor L2.

The closing of the contact members b and c on the up-direction switch l energizes the field winding GF of the generator G with current in one direction by way of a circuit that extends from supply conductor Ll through conductors H3 and i l the contact members I) of up-direction switch 1, conductor 72, the field winding GF, conductors l3 and M, the contact members of updirection switch 2, conductors. l and i6, resistor sections Rl, R2 and R3 and conductor I? to supply conductor L2,

The energizaticn of the field winding GF causes the generator G to supply current in one direction to the hoisting motor EM and the car starts upwardly.

The opening of the contact members d on the up-direction switch 5 opens the circuit for the signal lamp GL in the car and thereby extinguishes it.

As the attendant continues the movement of the car switch CS in a clockwise direction, a circuit is completed for energizing the intermediate speed relay 3 for causing the car to operate at its intermediate speed, which circuit extends from supply conductor Ll through conductors 5 5 and 38, the normally closed contact members of inductor relay SD, conductor 8!, the normally closed contact members of inductor relay SU,

. conductor 82, the coil of relays, conductors 83 and 8%, the contact members 85,.52 and 63 of switch CS and conductor 6 to supply conductor L2.

Theclosing of the contact members a on the intermediate speed relay 3 completesa self-holding circuit for that relay, extending from supply conductor L! to the coil of relayii, as just described and thence through conductor 83, the.

contact members a of relay 3 and conductors 86' and 8? to supply conductor L2.

The closing of the contact members I) on the intermediate speed relay 3 shunts the resistor section R3 from the circuit previously traced for the field winding GP to thereby cause the car to travel at a higher speed.

However, inasmuch 'as the attendant has received the signal to stop at the second floor, he will immediately center his car switch CS, after startingthe car, to complete a circuit to energize the slow down inductor relays for stopping the car at the recond floor. While I am describing the starting of the car by the step-bystepmovements of the car switch for the purpose of detailing thecircuits, it is to be understood that in actual practice, the attendant, in making a onefioor run, will throw the car switch CS all the way over momentarily and then immediately re-center it, as set forth in connection with the description of the counter E. M. F. relay 7. The circuit completed for energizing the slow down and stopping inductor. relays extends from supply conductor Ll through conductors t t, 55, 5% and 9? the coil of stopping inductor relay S, conductors 9| and 92, in parallel through the-coils of inductor relays SU and EU, conductor 93, the contact member 1 of up-direction switch i, conductors 88, 89, 94 and 95, the contact members 96, B2 and 63 of car switch CS and conductor'i l to supply conductor L2.

The energization of the inductor relays HU,.

SU and S by the centering of the car switch causes the inductor relays to be actuated to open their'contact members as they pass tlleinductor plates SU and S, and thereby open the circuits for the intermediate speed relay 3 and the up-direction switch I, thus deenergizing the relay 3 and the up direction switch l and bringing the car to a stop at the second floor.

The centering of the car switch CS, in addition to causing the car to stop, also causes the push button 2U to be restored to its normal open position by completing a circuit through the restoring coil 44 on button 2U which extends from supply conductor Ll through conductor til, the con tact members of button 2U, conductor 43, re storing coil A l, conductor 55, the contact segment 46 and the brush i5 on the floor selector, conductor 47. the contact members 0 of high speed relay 5, conductors 98 and 99, the contact men bers d of relay 3, conductor 95, the contact members 96, 62 and 63 of car switch CS and conductors E4 to supply conductor L2.

Inasmuch as the holding coil 45 and the restoring coil 44 on the push button 2U are wound in opposition to each other so as to oppose each other magnetically, when the restoring coil M is fully energized, it has sufiicient magnetic force to neutralize the magnetic force of the holding coil ii and thus cause the push button to be released to its normal open position. Therefore, the push button 2U will be released to its open position ready for future operation when full current is supplied to the restoring coil 44 by the completion of the circuit through the centering of the car switch, when the restoring coil was in series.

coil may be proportioned with reference to each other in any suitable manner, I prefer to employ a holding coil having a large number of turns of high resistance wire and a restoring coilhavin a Thererelatively small number of turns of low resistance wire, as represented in Fig; 3, in order to provide as economical a construction as possible. Such a construction will operate without any undue heating in the restoring coil because it is energized for only an instant and is never in continuous operation as is the holding coil.

The centering of the car switch CS to bring the car to a stop at the second floor also lights the floor lantern L2U at the second floor to indicate that the car will stop at that floor, by completing a circuit that extends from supply conductor LI through conductors 54 and 55, lamp L2U, conductor I00, contact segment IOI and brush II on floor selector FS, conductor I02, the normally closed contact members g on relay 4, conductors I03 and 99, the contact members 11 on intermediate speed relay 3, conductor 95, the contact members 96, 62 and 63 on car switch CS and conductor 64 to supply conductor L2.

As the car C moves into and stops at the second floor, the arm A on the floor selector moves to such position that the standing brush I2 is disposed on the contact segment IOI and, therefore, the circuit for lighting the floor lamp L2U is transferred from the low speed brush II to the standing brush I 2, which circuit now extends from supply conductor LI through conductors 54 and 55, lamp L2U, conductor I00, contact segment IOI, brush I2, conductor I05, the normally closed contact members e of intermediate speed relay 3, conductor 95, the contact members 96,

62 and 8-3 of car switch CS and conductor 64 to supply conductor L2.

Thus, the arrangement of the intermediate speed brush II and the standing brush I2 causes the floor lantern L2U to be lighted when the car C is conditioned to stop at the second floor and to thereafter remain lighted while the car slows down and while it stops at the second floor. The floor lantern will be extinguished when the contact members 62 and 96 on the car switch CS are separated by the movement of the switch to start the car.

Assuming now that the waiting passenger at the second floor has been taken on and that the attendant starts the car upwardly by moving the car switch CS in a clockwise direction to engage the contact members GI and 85 on thecar switch, then the up-direction switch I and the intermediate speed relay'3 will be energized for operating the car at intermediate speed, as previously described.

Inasmuch as the car attendant has no stop call for the next floor, he will cause the car to travel at high speed, by moving the car switch CS in a clockwise direction to a further position in engagement with car switch contact member I06, thereby energizing the high speed relay 4to operate the car at high speed, by way of a circuit which extends from supply conductor Ll through conductors 5'4, 80 and IN, the normally closed contact members of inductor relay HD, conductor I08, the normally closed contact members of inductor relay HU, conductor I09, the coil of relay 4, conductor III], the contact members a of counter E. M. F. relay I, conductor III, the contact members I06, 62 and 64 of car switch CS and conductor 54 to supply conductor L2.

The closing of the contact members a on the high speed relay 4 completes a holding circuit for that relay extending from supply conductor LI to the coil of relay 4, as just described, and thence through conductor I I2, the contact members a of relay 4 and conductors H3, 86 and 81 to supply conductor L2.

The closing of the contact members b on the relay 4 serves to shunt the resistor section R2 from the circuit previously traced for the field Winding GP to thereby cause the car to travel at high speed.

Assuming now that the dispatcher in charge of the elevator system closes the express speed switch 9 to speed up the operation of the car C so that it will return to the terminal as soon as possible, then the express relay 5 will be energized to operate the car at its express speed by way of a circuit that extends from supply conductor LI through conductor 54, the dispatching switch 9, conductor II5, the coil of express relay 5, conductor I IS, the contact members a of express controlling relay 6, conductor III contact members I; on C. E. M. F. relay I and conductor 81 to supply conductor L2.

The closing of the contact members on the express relay 5 serves to shunt the resistor section RI from the circuit previously traced for the field winding GF, thereby allowing full line voltage to be supplied to the winding CF to cause the car to travel at full express speed.

Assuming also that a passenger waiting at the eighth floor landing pressed the up button 8U as the car C left the first floor to answer the second floor call and thereby registered a stop call for the eighth floor; then the pressing of the button 8U energized the holding coil I I9 for maintaining the button 8U in a pressed condition by way of a circuit that extends from supply conductor LI through conductor I20, the contact members of button 6U, holding coil H9 and conductor 42 to conductor L2.

The energization of the holding coil H9 will maintain the button EU in its pressed condition to indicate to passengers at the eighth floor that it has been operated to register an up stop call.

The maintenance of the button 8U in its pressed condition will cause current to be supplied to the contact segment I I 6 on the floor selector for lighting a signal lamp in the car as it approaches the eighth floor to indicate to the car attendant that a stop is to be made at that floor.

As the car approaches the eighth floor stop at express speed, it will, by reason of the stop signal being registered for the eighth floor, be re duced form express speed to high speed because the movable arm MA on the floor selector will cause the express brush I3 to engage the energized contact segment H8, and thereby energize the express control relay 8 by way of a circuit which extends from supply conductor LI. through conductor I 20, the contact members of button 8U, conductor I2I, the restoring relay I22, conductor I23, contact segment I I8, brush I3, conductor I24, the coil I29 of relay 6 and conductors I25 and IT to supply conductor L2.

The closing of the contact members 17 on the relay 6 completes a self-holding circuit for that relay which extends from supply conductor LI through conductors 54, 55, 56 and 57, the normally closed contact members of the inductor relay S, conductors 58 and I26, the contact member b of relay 6, conductor I2'I the coil I29 of relay 6 and conductors I25 and 'I'! to supply conductor L2.

The opening of the normally closed contact members a on the relay 6 deenergizes the express relay 5. The deenergizing of the relay 5 causes its contact members a to open and thus re-insert the resistor section RI in the circuit for the field winding GF of the generator to thereby slow down the car to high speed. 2

. As the car continues its approach to the eighth floor, the floorselector arm MA'causes the high speed brush it to engage the energized contact segment H3 and thereby complete a circuit for lighting the signal lamp RL to indicate to the car attendant that a stop is to be made at the eighth floor, which circuit extends from supply conductor LI through conductor i2fi, the contact members of button 8U, conductor I2I, restoring coil I22, conductor 523, contact segment H8, brush I4, conductor est, filament a of lamp RL and conductor' I35 to supply conductor L2.

Upon the lighting of the signallamp RL, the

car attendant centers the car-switch CS, thereby energizing ,theinductor relays HU, SU and S as previously described, so that they will be actuated by the inductor plates HU', SU and S to cause the car to stop at the eighth floor.

As the car passes the eighth floor inductor plate EU, the energized inductor relay EU will be actuated to open its contact members and thereby open the holding circuit for the high speed relay 4 to automatically slow down the car to intermediate speed. i

As the car continues toward the eighth floor level, the energized inductor relay SU passes the eighth floor inductor plate SU' and is actuated to open its contact members to deenergize the intermediate speed relay 3 to automatically bring .the car to a still lower speed as it approaches the point at which the power should be cut oil.

As the car continues toward the eighth floor level, the energized stopping inductor relay S passes the. inductor plate S and is actuated thereby to open the circuit to the up, direction switch l for deenergizing the generator winding GF and bringing the car to a stop at the eighth floor. I I The opening of the contact members on the stopping inductor relay S also deenergizes the holding circuit for the express control relay 6 thereby restoring that relay to its normal condition in which its contact members a are closed to permit the express relay 5 to be again energized when the dispatcher desires to operate the car at express speed.

Upon the centering of the car switch CS for the eighth floor stop, a-shunt circuit around the signal lamp RL was completed for fully energizing the restoring coil #22 on the eighth floor push button 8U to overcome the energized holding coil l I9 and thus release the button 3U to open position, which circuit'extends from supply conductor LI through conductor I 20, the contact members of button 8U, conductor iZl, restoring coil I22, conductor I 23,

contact segment'll8, brush i 3-, conductors 13B and $3 or" car switch CS and conductor 64 to supply conductor L2, The complete energization of therestoring coil I22 restores the push button EU and extinguishes the signal lamp BL.

The'centering of the car. switch'CS also completes a circuit for lighting the floor lantern L8U to indicate to the waiting passenger at the eighth floor that the car will stop at that floor, which circuit extends from supply conductor LI through conductors 54 and 55, floor lantern LSU, conductor 33, contact segment IM, the high speed brush Ill, conductor I 35, the contact members It on high speed relay 4, conductors 94 and 95, the contact members 95, 62 and 63 on the car switch CS, and conductor 64 to supply conductor L2.-

As the car continues toward the eighth floor stop, the arm MA moves along the fioor'selector until the intermediate speed brush I I engages the contact segment I34 thereby causing the lightingof the floor lantern L8U to be transferred from brush I0 to brush II by way of a circuit that extends from supply conductor LI through conductors 54 and 55, lamp L8U, conductor I33, segment I34, brush It, conductor I92, the normally closed contact members g of the high speed relay 4,'conductors I83 and 99, the contact members d on intermediate speed relay 3, conductor 95, the contact members 9'5, 62 and 63 of car switch CS and conductor 64 .to supply conductor L2.

. As the car comes to rest at the eighth floor landing, the arm MA on the floor selector moves to such position that the standing brush I2 is disposed on thecontact segment I34 and, therefore, the circuit for lighting the floor lantern LSU is transferred from the intermediate speed brush II to the standing brush I2, which circuit now extends from supply conductorLI through conductors 54 and 55, lamp L8U,-conductor I33, contact segment I34, brush I2, conductor I Q5, contact members e of relay 3, conductor 95, the contact members Sis, 62 and 63 the car switch CS and conductor 64 to supply conductor L2.

' Thus the arrangement of the high speedbrush the eighth floor and that thecattendant again gize thedown-selector relay 33 for causing-the movable arm to be tilted over so that it "bears upon the down-contact segments on the floor selector.

Thecircuit completed by the closing of the contact members 'a on the selector relay 32 for energizing the selector relay 33 extends from supply cond'uctor LI through conductor I4 I, the coil of relay conductor M2, contact members'a of'relay 32, conductor I 33, the contact members,

of down-limit switch 35 and conductor IM to supply conductor L2. 7 I

The opening of the normally closed contact members a on the relay 33 prevents reenergization of the relay 32 until the relay 33 is again deenergized. a The closing of the contact members 22 on the relay 33 completes a circuit for energizing the 'electromagnet 3! to tilt the arm MA until it rests on the down contact segments, which circuit extends from supply conductor Lithrough conductors I AI and M5, the contact members 1) 'of relay33, conductor- I45 the coil of magnet 31, and conductors I47 Assuming now that the car has taken on a number of passengers at the upper terminal and is ready to start down and that the car attendant moves the car switch CS in a counterclockwise direction, then a circuit is completed for energizing the down-direction switch 2 to start the car downwardly which circuit extends from supply conductor LI through conductors 54, 55, 56 and 51, the contact members of the inductor relay S, conductors 58 and I59, the coil of down direction switch 2, conductors WI and I40, contact members I52, 62 and I53 of car switch CS and conductor 64 to supply conductor L2.

The closing of the contact members a on the down direction switch 2 completes a self-holding circuit for the down-direction switch 2 extending from supply conductor LI to the coil of down-direction switch 2 as just described and thence through conductor I I, the contact memhere a of down-direction switch 2 and conductor 58 to supply conductor L2.

The closing of the contact members I) and c on the down-direction switch 2 energizes the field winding GF of the generator G with current in the reverse direction by way of a circuit that extends from supply conductor LI through conductors 'Il, 'II and I54, the contact members I) of down-direction switch 2, conductor I3, field winding GE, conductors l2 and I55, the contact members 0 of down-direction switch 2, conductors i56 and i6, the resistor sections RI, R2 and R3 and conductor I1 to supply conductor L2.

The energization of the field winding GF causes the generator G to supply current in the reverse direction to the hoisting motor EM and the car starts downwardly.

As the attendant continues the movement of car switch CS in a counter-clockwise direction, a circuit is completed for energizing the intermediate speed relay 3 to cause the car to operate at its intermediate speed, which circuit extends from supply conductor LI through conductors 54 and 83, the contact members of inductor relay SD, conductor 8 I, the contact members of inductor relay SU, conductor 82, the coil of relay 3 conductors 83, 84 and I51, contact members I58, 62 and I53 of car switch CS and conductor 64 to supply conductor L2.

The closing of the contact members a on the intermediate speed relay 3 completes a selfholding circuit for that relay which extends from supply conductor LI to the coil of relay 3 as just described and thence through conductor 83, the contact members a of relay 3 and conductors 86 and 8'! to supply conductor L2.

The closing of the contact members b on the intermediate speed relay 3 shunts the resistor section R3 from the circuit of the field winding GF, as previously described, thereby causing the car to travel at its intermediate speed.

Assuming that the attendant, desiring to cause the car to travel at a still greater speed, moves the car switch CS further in its counter-clockwise direction, then a circuit for energizing the high speed relay 4 to cause the car to travel at its high speed will be completed from supply conductor Ll through conductors 54, 89 and II", the contact members of inductor relay HD, conductor its, the contact members of inductor relay I-IU, conductor Hi9, the coil of relay 4, conductor III], the contact members a of counter E. M. F. relay 1, conductors I I I and I59, the con tact members I60,-62 and I53 of car switch CS and conductor 64 to supply conductor L2.

The closing of the contact members a on relay 4 completes a self-holding circuit for that relay extending from supply conductor Li to the coil of the relay 4, as previously described, and thence through conductor H2, the contact members a of relay 4 and conductors H3, 86 and 81 to supply conductor L2.

The closing of the contact members I; on the high speed relay 4 shunts the resistor section R2 from the circuit of the field winding GF, as previously described, thereby causing the car to travelat an increased speed.

Inasmuch as the dispatcher has not yet opened the express speed switch 9, the caris still conditioned to operate at express speed. Therefore, as soon as the generator reaches a predetermined speed, the counter E. M. F. relay I will close its contact members I: to complete the hereinbefore described circuit for energizing the express speed relay 5. Consequently that relay closes its contact members thereby shunting the resistor section RI from the circuit of the field winding GF, as previously described, and causing the car to travel downwardly at express speed.

Assuming further that some of the passengers taken on at the upper terminal called out stops for the third and second floors and that the attendant pressed the push buttons C3 and C2 to register the stops indicated by the passengers, then a circuit has been partially prepared for lighting the signal lamps in the car to indicate to the car attendant when to center his car switch to make the stops at the third and second floors.

The pressing of the button C3 completed a self holding circuit for that button extending from supply conductor Li through conductors 54 and IBI, the contact members of button C3, holding coil I62 and conductor 163 to supply conductor L2.

As the car approaches at express speed the down stop at the third floor, it will be decelerated from express speed to high speed because the arm MA on the iioor selector will cause the express brush 2! to engage the energized contact segment I64 and ther by energize the express control relay 6 by way of a circuit which extends from the supply conductor Li through conductors 54 and ifiI, the contact members of button C3, conductor I55, restoring coil H58, conductor I67, the contact segment E54, express brush 2|, conductors H2 and H3, the coil II 4 of relay 6, and conductors S25 and TI to supply conductor L2.

The closing of the contact members b on the relay 6 completes a self-holding circuit for that relay as hereinbefore described.

The opening of the normally closed contact members a on the relay 6 deenergizes the express relay 5 and causes the car to decelerate from express speed to high speed as hereinbefore described.

As the car continues its approach to the down stop at the third floor, the high speed brush 20 engages the contact segment 164 on the floor selector and thereby completes the circuit partial- 1y prepared by the operation of the push button C3 for lighting the red signal lamp RL to indicate to the car attendant that a stop is to be made at the third ficor, which circuit extends from supply conductor LI through conductors 54 and I6 I, the contact members of button C3, conductor I65, restoring coil I65, conductor I61, the contact segment I64, brush 20, conductors I68 and I69, the filament b of lamp RL and conductor III] to supply conductor LZ. c

As the lamp RL lights up to indicate the third floor stop, the car attendant centers the car switch CS to energize the inductor relays HD, SD and S, as previously described, so that they will be actuated by the inductor plates HD', SD" and S to bring the car to a stop at the third floor landing.

The centering of the car switch CS also completes a shunt circuit around the signal lamp RL and causes the restoring coil I 66; to be fully energized so that it will overcome the holding coil I62 torelease the push button C3 to its open position and completely extinguish the signal lamp RL, which circuit extends from supply conductor L through conductors 5 3 and MI, the contact member of button C3, conductor I65, restoring coil I66, conductor I67, contact segment I66, brush 29, conductors i68, I69 and I79, the contact members f of relay i, conductors 99, 94 and 95, the contact members 96, 62 and I53 of car switch CS and conductor 66 to supply conductor L2.

The centering of the car switch CS for the third floor stop also completes a circuit for lighting the floor lantern LEI) at the third floor. to indicate to passengers who may be waiting at that floor that the car is going to stop, which circuit extends from supply conductor LI, conductors 54 and 55, floor lantern LED, conductor I72, contact segment i I3, brush 2?, conductor I'M, the contact members 9101 relay '5, conductors I'IE and W5, contact members f of relay 3, conductor 95, the contact members 93, $2 and i533 of car switch CS and conductor St to supply conductor L2.

As the car continues toward the third floor, the floor selector arm MA moves downwardly until the low speed brush 26 engages the contact segment H6 and thereby causes the lighting or" the a floor lantern L33 to be transferred from brush 2? to brush 26 by way of a circuit that extends from the supply conductor LI to the contact segment I73 as previously described and then through brush 2%, conductor III, the contact members i of relay conductor fit, the contact members i of relay 3, conductor 95, contact members 96, 62 and IE3 of the car switch CS and conductor 64 to supply conductor L2,

As the car comes to rest at the third floor landing, the arm MA on the floor selector moves to such position that the standing brush.v 25 is,

disposed on the contact segment I13 thus transferring the circuit for lighting the floor lantern L3D from the low speed brush 26 to the standing brush 26, which circuit now extends from the supply conductor LI to'the contact segment I13 as previously described, and then through brush 25, conductor I79, the contact members 0 of relay 3, conductor 95, the. contact members 96, 52 and I53 of car switch CS and conductor 64 to supply conductor L2.

Thus the arrangement of the high-speed brush 21, the intermediate speed brush 26 and the standing brush 25 causes the floor lanternLSD to be lighted when the car prepares to stop at the third floor and to thereafter remain lighted while the car slows down and while it stops at Assuming now that the stop at the third floor is completed and recalling that the car attendant pressed the car button C2 to indicate a stop at the second floor, then the pressing of the button C2 completed a self-holding circuit for that button, extending from supply conductor LI through conductors 54 and I6I, the contact members of button C2, holding coil I 89 and conductor I63 to supply conductor L2.

Inasmuch as the button C2 has been pressed for a down stop at the second floor, the standing of the carat the third floor will cause a circuit to be completed for lighting the signal lamp GL in the car to indicate to the car attendant that he should operate the car for a one-floor run to the next 1100: below, which circuit extends from the supply conductor LI through conductors 59 and I6.I,the contact members of button 02, conductor I8I, restoring coil I82, conductor I83,.contactsegment me, standing brush I9, conductors I86, I86 and I87, the contact members e of 'up direction switch I, conductor I88, contact memberse of down direction switch 2, conductor I89, filament b of lamp GL and conductor I9 to supply conductor L2.

Upon receiving the signal by the lighting of thelamp GL for a stop at the next floor below, thecar attendant moves the car switch in the counter-clockwise direction to engage the contact member I58 thereon for operating the car for a one-floor run. Thereupon the car will start down and accelerate to its intermediate speed as previously described. As soon as the car gets under way, the car attendant centers the car switch CS for the down stop at the second floor, thus energizing the inductor relay. as previously described and bringing the car to a stop at the second floor. As previously described,

the car attendant may,.in practice byreason of,

' circuit extends from supply conductor LI through conductors 54 and I6I, the contact members of button C2, conductor ISI, restoring coil I82, conductor I93, contactsegment I84, brush i9, conductors I and I86, the contact members e of relay 4, conductors I9I, I93 and 99, the contact members d of relay 3, conductor 95, the contact members 96, 62 and I 53 of car switch CS and conductor 64 to supply conductor L2.

The centering of thecar switch will also complete the circuits for lighting the floor lantern L2D in the manner previously described. After the down stop at the second floor is completed the car may be operated to answer such further calls as may exist. Thus it will be seen that I have provided a signal system for use in connection with elevators that serves to indicate the registered condition of the buttons, that provides for restoring the button as soon asthe car is conditioned to answer the call set up by the buttons, and which requires a relatively small number of parts and a minimum amount of wiring,

While I have illustrated and described only one specific embodiment of my invention, I realize it is susceptible of many modifications. There'- 'means for registering calls for stops to be made by the car, means responsive to the registration of a stop call and to the approach of the car to that call for causing the car to pick up the said call at a point a predetermined distance from the floor corresponding thereto, and means responsive to the registration of said call and to the approach of the car to said point for rendering said separate express speed means ineffective whereby the car may pick up the said call While operating at normal speed.

2. In an elevator system having a car, means for operating the car at a normal high speed, separate means for causing the car to operate at an express speed above its normal high speed, means for registering calls for stops to be made by the car, means responsive to the registration of a stop call and to the approach of the car to that call for causing the car to pick up the said call at a point a predetermined distance from the floor corresponding thereto, control means responsive to the registration of said stop call and to the approach of the car to said point for rendering said express speed means ineffective whereby the car may pick up said stop call while operating at normal speed, means responsive to the operation of the control means effective to maintain the same in operated condition, a control system for stopping the car, and means responsive to the operation of the said control system for rendering the maintaining means ineifective.

3. In a signal system for an elevator car operable at a normal high speed and at an express speed past a landing fioor, means operable at a dispatching station for causing the car to operate at express speed, means for registering a call for the car to stop at the floor, means operably responsive to the approach of the car to the floor for causing the car to receive the registered call for a stop at a distance from the floor which will permit deceleration of the car from its normal high speed to a stop level with the floor after receiving the registered call, and means operably responsive to the position of the car and to the registration of the call for decelerating the car from its express speed to its normal high speed prior to its receipt of the registered call.

4. In an elevator system having a car, operable at a normal high speed, means operable at a dispatching station for causing the car to operate at an express speed above its normal high speed, means for registering calls for stops to be made by the car, and means responsive to the registration of a call for a stop and to the approach of the car to said stop for rendering the express speed means ineffective.

5. In an elevator system having a car operable at a normal high speed, means operable at a dispatching station for causing the car to operate at an express speed above its normal high speed, means for registering calls for stops to be made by the car, means responsive to the registration of a call for a stop and to the approach of the car to said stop rendering the express speed means inefiective, a control system for decelerating and stopping the car from its normal high speed, and means responsive to operation of the said ineffective-rendering means and to the said control system for maintaining the ineffective-rendering means in operated condition until the control system operates to stop the car.

6. In an elevator system having a car operable at a normal high speed, means operable at a dispatching station for causing the car to operate at an express speed above its normal high speed, means for registering calls for stops to be made by the car, a relay, means responsive to the registration or a call for a stop and to the approach of the car to said stop for energizing said relay to render the express speed means ineffective, a control system for decelerating and stopping the car from its normal high speed, and means responsive to energization of the relay and to the said control system for maintaining the relay energized until the control system operates to stop the car.

'7. In an elevator system having a car operable at a normal high speed, means on the car for causing it to operate at its normal high speed, means operable at a dispatching station for causing the car to operate at an express speed above its normal high speed, and means responsive to operation of the car at less than its normal high speed for rendering the express speed means inefiective until the car attains its normal high speed.

8. In an elevator system having a car, a motor for operating the car at a normal high speed and at an express speed above its normal high speed, means operable at a dispatching station for causing the motor to operate the car at express speed, and means responsive to the terminal voltage applied to said motor for rendering the express speed means ineffective until the terminal voltage reaches a predetermined value.

WILLIAM F. EAMES. 

